Welcome to the page to nominate titles for Panda 2012 Middle Readers. Grades 3 to 5 / Years 4 to 6 Make sure you always post your review above the latest review and use the following format:
Username-Date-Title-Author-Review
Karen Gockley, March 5
Lifters by Joe Craig
Adaq and Maya are siblings - urban professionals with a unique set of thieving skills.
When Adaq lifts a package from his latest target he has no idea what he's getting into. Before he can blink, the target is lying dead on the ground and he is running for his life. A sharp, urban thriller from Joe Craig, author of the international best-selling Jimmy Coates series. (British author, young guy, and lots of action in this easy reader.)
Squish No. 1 - Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm
Booklist (March 15, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 14))
Grades 3-5. The Holm siblings (of Babymouse fame) start a new series of humorous school stories, this time featuring amoebas and other single-celled creatures. Squish prefers to spend his time reading comic books starring Super Amoeba but has to attend elementary school with his friends Pod, who’s a bit of a mooch, and Peggy, who’s always happy and a bit naive. There they face a bit more danger from bullies than most: Lynwood has a bad habit of eating paramecia, such as Peggy. Young readers will relate to the everyday misadventures of getting detention for being tardy, trading school lunches, dealing with bullies, and taking tests. They’ll also enjoy the way the amoebas chow down on tacos, read comic books, and generally act like kids. The black, white, and green art makes amoebas look, for the most part, cute, while the narrative and comments directed to the reader appear in green-tinted, arrowed boxes. Squish may appeal more to boys than girls, but any fans of the Holms’ superpopular other series are likely to enjoy this new offering.
Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
Booklist (January 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 9))
Grades 3-6. In the series that includes The Year of the Dog (2006) and The Year of the Rat (2008), this longer book picks up Pacy’s story as her family flies from upstate New York to her parents’ homeland, Taiwan. Embarrassed that she and her two sisters are dressed in matching hot-pink dresses for the trip, Pacy is a reluctant traveler. But once she arrives in Taipei, she begins to open up to the new relationships, foods, and ways of thinking she finds there. Thoughtful and sometimes amusing, this episodic journey narrative captures Pacy’s emotions and reflections, whether they involve an unfamiliar (and literally alarming) high-tech toilet or her newfound understanding of what it means to be both American and Taiwanese. The first-person narrative pauses at intervals to include stories that Pacy’s relatives share with her, both traditional tales and memorable accounts of family members dealing with superstition, political oppression, and loss. While this engaging book broadens the series in a meaningful way, it also works well as a stand-alone title.
Nadine Rosevear - February 15, 2012 - Small Change for Stuart - Lissa Evans, 2011 - Magic http://bookzone4boys.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-smal
l-change-for-stuart-by-lissa.html
Small Change For Stuart is a delightfully quirky and entertaining read, that is perfect for the 7+ age group, and I think it will be loved equally by both boys and girls. Stuart's lot is not a happy one: he is very small for his age and his surname of Horten leads to all kinds of hilarity for his peers when coupled with his first initial, and to make things even worse his mother has a new job in a hospital in another town and so the family have moved house to Beeton, the town where his father was born. However, this move leads to an incredible adventure for Stuart, as he embarks on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of his great uncle many years before. Uncle Tony was a magician, and it would appear that before disappearing he left a series of clues that soon have young Stuart believing that magic just might be very real.
Karen Gockley, February 8th: Darth Paper strikes back : an Origami Yoda book. 2011 (Amulet) Good story with activity.
Lost: a dog called bear. Wendy Orr. 2011 (Australian author)
When Logan's dog runs away as he and his mother are moving to a new home after his parents separate, a girl named Hannah, who longs for a dog of her own, finds him.
The Dragon's Tooth-N.D. Wilson, 2011, BL
When their parents' seedy old motel burns down on the same night they are visited by a strange man covered in skeleton tattoos, Cyrus, Antigone, and their brother Daniel are introduced to an ancient secret society, and discover that they have an important role inkeeping it alive.
I Am the Book. et al, 2011, BL
Grades 2-5. In this picture-book collection from veteran anthologist Hopkins, 13 well-known children’s poets celebrate how books can take readers on wild adventures (I storm / toward shackled screams / of a kidnapped damsel), as well as how plain words can reveal the surprising drama in ordinary things, even the rhyming sounds of a clock: tick-tock / ding-dong / bing-bong. Karla Kuskin speaks about the wonders of wandering / wonderful pages and the nonsense and knowledge that come tumbling out. And in another selection, Kristine O’Connell George writes, riding home from the library, / don’t need a window seat. / Got a great new book to read, / eleven more beneath my feet. The whimsical, light-toned acrylic artwork extends the metaphors with witty, fantastical transformations of books: in one scene, a dark-blue book cover becomes an ocean, where you can dive in the sea of words and swim. Fun for sharing with preschoolers, this will also spark discussion in grade-school writing and art classes. Notes about each poet are appended.
Wonkenstein. Obert Skye, 2011, BL
Twelve-year-old Rob does not like to read and stuffs most of the books his parents give him into his closet with the rest of his junk, but when he finds a funny little creature behind the door that seems to be a cross between Willy Wonka and Frankenstein, he begins to see that reading can be an adventure.
The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs. (non-fiction, 48 p.) BL *
Panamanian golden frogs started to disappear in the mid-1990s. What's killing them? Follow a team of scientists working to save the frogs and protect frog populations worldwide in this real-life science mystery.
Eileen Hurley - Febuary 5, 2012 -Breadcrumbs- Anne Ursu; illustrations by Erin McGuire. c2011 - fantasy. Gr 3-7 Kirkus Reviews (reviewed on July 15, 2011) In this contemporary version of The Snow Queen, fifth-grader Hazel embarks on a memorable journey into the Minnesota woods to find her best friend Jack, who vanishes after a shard of glass pierces his eye.
Adopted from India as a baby, fantasy maven Hazel has always felt “she was from a different planet.” Hazel tries “desperately not to disturb the universe” at Lovelace Elementary, where she doesn’t fit in with anyone except Jack, the only person she knows with a real imagination. Together they’ve grown out of “Wonderland Arctic space-people tea parties” into “superhero baseball”—until the day Hazel pelts Jack with a snowball, glass enters his eye and he disappears with a mysterious woman resembling the Snow Queen. Uncertain if Jack’s really changed or something fey’s afoot, Hazel enters the woods to find “an entirely different place,” populated by creatures from the pages of Hans Christian Andersen. As Hazel discovers she doesn’t know the ground rules, the third-person narrator engages readers with asides and inter-textual references from the fairy-tale canon. And like a fairy-tale heroine, Hazel traverses the woods without a breadcrumb trail to save a boy who may not want to be saved in this multi-layered, artfully crafted, transforming testament to the power of friendship. More than just a good story, this will appeal to lovers of Cornelia Funke as well as Andersen. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Nadine Rosevear - January 18, 2012 -The One and Only Ivan** - Katherine Applegate ; illustrations by Patricia Castelao. c2012 USA - animals fiction.
School Library Journal (January 1, 2012)
Gr 3-7-This tender tale of friendship and hope is narrated by a silverback gorilla living at The Big Top Mall, a shabby, circus-themed roadside attraction. For years, Ivan was passively content. He had his art, unlimited bananas, and his friends: Stella (an elephant), Bob (a stray dog), and Julia (a human child). Ivan's eyes are finally opened to his deplorable surroundings when he loses a friend due to neglect. The last straw is when he witnesses the attraction's owner abusing Ruby, a newly acquired baby elephant. Thus, Ivan is inspired to take action. With some help from his human friends, his dream of a better life for all the Big Top's animals just might come true. The character of Ivan, as explained in an author's note, is inspired by a real gorilla that lived through similar conditions before being adopted by Zoo Atlanta. Applegate makes a powerful statement about the treatment of animals-especially those living in captivity-and reminds readers that all creatures deserve a safe place to call home. Castelao's delightful illustrations enhance this lovely story, and the characters will capture readers' hearts and never let go. A must-have.-Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Josianne Fitzgerald, IST, 15 November 2011
Havoc, by Chris Wooding. Prose + graphic novel. Is second book in series that starts with Havoc. Copyright year 2010.
From School Library Journal (as quoted on Amazon) -
"Gr 6-9–This much-anticipated sequel to the hybrid novel/comic Malice (Scholastic, 2009) jumps immediately into fast-paced action. Best friends Seth and Kady hadn't put much stock in the urban legend claiming kids who perform a certain ritual will be spirited away into the comic-book world of Malice, a dangerous place controlled by the villainous Tall Jake. But now Kady is trapped there, and Seth is the only one who can come to her aid–if he can find a way to get there. Through multiple points of view, Seth and his friends take readers through heart-pounding twists and turns as the adventures alternate between the steampunk setting of Malice and our world, where Tall Jake seeks to extend his reign. Reluctant readers will be drawn in by the simple writing style interspersed with pages of comic-book-style illustrations that propel the story forward. Characterization is a little thin, but that won't deter those who are hooked on the book's relentless action, mild horror, and inventive world-building. A satisfying conclusion to a compelling read.–Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted."
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - The Un-forgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce Notes: Two refugee brothers from Mongolia are determined to fit in with their Liverpool schoolmates, but bring so much of Mongolia to Bootle that their new friend and guide, Julie, is hard-pressed to know truth from fantasy as she recollects a wonderful friendship that was abruptly ended when Chingis and his family were forced to return to Mongolia.
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
Horn Book starred (Spring 2012)
During World War II, two Romany boys and their baby sister find themselves in a zoo inhabited by talking animals. They share their stories--of brutality, courage, despair, and hope--then the narrative shifts to an escape journey. Hartnett's particular combination of crystal-edged realism and operatic scope makes for a riveting, edgy read, leaving one examining the whole notion of civilization versus wildness.
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Booklist (December 15, 2011 (Online))
Grades 4-7. The author of Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister (2008) again explores the hazards of wishes that come true. Here, when the close families of sensible, routine-loving Jenni and her exuberantly larger-than-life BFF, Autumn, meet for their annual week’s vacation in a time-share colony, Jenni idly thinks it would be cool to know what’s coming—and after a ride in a strange antique elevator suddenly finds herself a year older. More shockingly, so is everyone else, and she witnesses Autumn and her once-tight family coming apart in the wake of a devastating accident the year before. After further rides reveal even more dismal events two and three years later, including the breakup of her own parents, Jenni finds a way to return to her present and by the narrowest of margins avert the catalyzing mishap. A crowd-pleaser for fans of uncomplicated light fantasy, the novel is enriched by simply drawn characters, an intensely suspenseful climax, and an upbeat ending sweetened by both strong affirmations of friendship and a romantic subplot in the supporting cast.
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross
Horn Book starred (Fall 2011)
This remarkable book presents fourteen historical explorations, from Pytheas the Greek's three-thousand-years-ago voyage to Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins's moon shot, with the question "how did they do that?" as focus. Detailed cross sections, often displayed in foldout segments, diagram each mode of transportation; maps abound, also within foldout pages. The text diligently differentiates between fact and opinion. Bib., glos., ind.
Make sure you always post your review above the latest review and use the following format:
Username-Date-Title-Author-Review
Karen Gockley, March 5
Lifters by Joe Craig
Adaq and Maya are siblings - urban professionals with a unique set of thieving skills.
When Adaq lifts a package from his latest target he has no idea what he's getting into. Before he can blink, the target is lying dead on the ground and he is running for his life. A sharp, urban thriller from Joe Craig, author of the international best-selling Jimmy Coates series. (British author, young guy, and lots of action in this easy reader.)
Squish No. 1 - Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm
Booklist (March 15, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 14))
Grades 3-5. The Holm siblings (of Babymouse fame) start a new series of humorous school stories, this time featuring amoebas and other single-celled creatures. Squish prefers to spend his time reading comic books starring Super Amoeba but has to attend elementary school with his friends Pod, who’s a bit of a mooch, and Peggy, who’s always happy and a bit naive. There they face a bit more danger from bullies than most: Lynwood has a bad habit of eating paramecia, such as Peggy. Young readers will relate to the everyday misadventures of getting detention for being tardy, trading school lunches, dealing with bullies, and taking tests. They’ll also enjoy the way the amoebas chow down on tacos, read comic books, and generally act like kids. The black, white, and green art makes amoebas look, for the most part, cute, while the narrative and comments directed to the reader appear in green-tinted, arrowed boxes. Squish may appeal more to boys than girls, but any fans of the Holms’ superpopular other series are likely to enjoy this new offering.Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
Booklist (January 1, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 9))
Grades 3-6. In the series that includes The Year of the Dog (2006) and The Year of the Rat (2008), this longer book picks up Pacy’s story as her family flies from upstate New York to her parents’ homeland, Taiwan. Embarrassed that she and her two sisters are dressed in matching hot-pink dresses for the trip, Pacy is a reluctant traveler. But once she arrives in Taipei, she begins to open up to the new relationships, foods, and ways of thinking she finds there. Thoughtful and sometimes amusing, this episodic journey narrative captures Pacy’s emotions and reflections, whether they involve an unfamiliar (and literally alarming) high-tech toilet or her newfound understanding of what it means to be both American and Taiwanese. The first-person narrative pauses at intervals to include stories that Pacy’s relatives share with her, both traditional tales and memorable accounts of family members dealing with superstition, political oppression, and loss. While this engaging book broadens the series in a meaningful way, it also works well as a stand-alone title.Nadine Rosevear - February 15, 2012 - Small Change for Stuart - Lissa Evans, 2011 - Magic
http://bookzone4boys.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-smal
l-change-for-stuart-by-lissa.html
Small Change For Stuart is a delightfully quirky and entertaining read, that is perfect for the 7+ age group, and I think it will be loved equally by both boys and girls. Stuart's lot is not a happy one: he is very small for his age and his surname of Horten leads to all kinds of hilarity for his peers when coupled with his first initial, and to make things even worse his mother has a new job in a hospital in another town and so the family have moved house to Beeton, the town where his father was born. However, this move leads to an incredible adventure for Stuart, as he embarks on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of his great uncle many years before. Uncle Tony was a magician, and it would appear that before disappearing he left a series of clues that soon have young Stuart believing that magic just might be very real.
Karen Gockley, February 8th:
Darth Paper strikes back : an Origami Yoda book. 2011 (Amulet) Good story with activity.
Lost: a dog called bear. Wendy Orr. 2011 (Australian author)
When Logan's dog runs away as he and his mother are moving to a new home after his parents separate, a girl named Hannah, who longs for a dog of her own, finds him.
The Dragon's Tooth-N.D. Wilson, 2011, BL
When their parents' seedy old motel burns down on the same night they are visited by a strange man covered in skeleton tattoos, Cyrus, Antigone, and their brother Daniel are introduced to an ancient secret society, and discover that they have an important role inkeeping it alive.
I Am the Book. et al, 2011, BL
Grades 2-5. In this picture-book collection from veteran anthologist Hopkins, 13 well-known children’s poets celebrate how books can take readers on wild adventures (I storm / toward shackled screams / of a kidnapped damsel), as well as how plain words can reveal the surprising drama in ordinary things, even the rhyming sounds of a clock: tick-tock / ding-dong / bing-bong. Karla Kuskin speaks about the wonders of wandering / wonderful pages and the nonsense and knowledge that come tumbling out. And in another selection, Kristine O’Connell George writes, riding home from the library, / don’t need a window seat. / Got a great new book to read, / eleven more beneath my feet. The whimsical, light-toned acrylic artwork extends the metaphors with witty, fantastical transformations of books: in one scene, a dark-blue book cover becomes an ocean, where you can dive in the sea of words and swim. Fun for sharing with preschoolers, this will also spark discussion in grade-school writing and art classes. Notes about each poet are appended.
Wonkenstein. Obert Skye, 2011, BL
Twelve-year-old Rob does not like to read and stuffs most of the books his parents give him into his closet with the rest of his junk, but when he finds a funny little creature behind the door that seems to be a cross between Willy Wonka and Frankenstein, he begins to see that reading can be an adventure.
The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs. (non-fiction, 48 p.) BL *
Panamanian golden frogs started to disappear in the mid-1990s. What's killing them? Follow a team of scientists working to save the frogs and protect frog populations worldwide in this real-life science mystery.
Eileen Hurley - Febuary 5, 2012 - Breadcrumbs - Anne Ursu; illustrations by Erin McGuire. c2011 - fantasy.
Gr 3-7
Kirkus Reviews (reviewed on July 15, 2011)
In this contemporary version of The Snow Queen, fifth-grader Hazel embarks on a memorable journey into the Minnesota woods to find her best friend Jack, who vanishes after a shard of glass pierces his eye.
Adopted from India as a baby, fantasy maven Hazel has always felt “she was from a different planet.” Hazel tries “desperately not to disturb the universe” at Lovelace Elementary, where she doesn’t fit in with anyone except Jack, the only person she knows with a real imagination. Together they’ve grown out of “Wonderland Arctic space-people tea parties” into “superhero baseball”—until the day Hazel pelts Jack with a snowball, glass enters his eye and he disappears with a mysterious woman resembling the Snow Queen. Uncertain if Jack’s really changed or something fey’s afoot, Hazel enters the woods to find “an entirely different place,” populated by creatures from the pages of Hans Christian Andersen. As Hazel discovers she doesn’t know the ground rules, the third-person narrator engages readers with asides and inter-textual references from the fairy-tale canon. And like a fairy-tale heroine, Hazel traverses the woods without a breadcrumb trail to save a boy who may not want to be saved in this multi-layered, artfully crafted, transforming testament to the power of friendship.
More than just a good story, this will appeal to lovers of Cornelia Funke as well as Andersen. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Nadine Rosevear - January 18, 2012 - The One and Only Ivan** - Katherine Applegate ; illustrations by Patricia Castelao. c2012 USA - animals fiction.
School Library Journal (January 1, 2012)
Gr 3-7-This tender tale of friendship and hope is narrated by a silverback gorilla living at The Big Top Mall, a shabby, circus-themed roadside attraction. For years, Ivan was passively content. He had his art, unlimited bananas, and his friends: Stella (an elephant), Bob (a stray dog), and Julia (a human child). Ivan's eyes are finally opened to his deplorable surroundings when he loses a friend due to neglect. The last straw is when he witnesses the attraction's owner abusing Ruby, a newly acquired baby elephant. Thus, Ivan is inspired to take action. With some help from his human friends, his dream of a better life for all the Big Top's animals just might come true. The character of Ivan, as explained in an author's note, is inspired by a real gorilla that lived through similar conditions before being adopted by Zoo Atlanta. Applegate makes a powerful statement about the treatment of animals-especially those living in captivity-and reminds readers that all creatures deserve a safe place to call home. Castelao's delightful illustrations enhance this lovely story, and the characters will capture readers' hearts and never let go. A must-have.-Alissa J. LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Josianne Fitzgerald, IST, 15 November 2011
Havoc, by Chris Wooding. Prose + graphic novel. Is second book in series that starts with Havoc. Copyright year 2010.
From School Library Journal (as quoted on Amazon) -
http://www.amazon.com/Malice-Book-Havoc-Chris-Wooding/dp/0545160456/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top"Gr 6-9–This much-anticipated sequel to the hybrid novel/comic Malice (Scholastic, 2009) jumps immediately into fast-paced action. Best friends Seth and Kady hadn't put much stock in the urban legend claiming kids who perform a certain ritual will be spirited away into the comic-book world of Malice, a dangerous place controlled by the villainous Tall Jake. But now Kady is trapped there, and Seth is the only one who can come to her aid–if he can find a way to get there. Through multiple points of view, Seth and his friends take readers through heart-pounding twists and turns as the adventures alternate between the steampunk setting of Malice and our world, where Tall Jake seeks to extend his reign. Reluctant readers will be drawn in by the simple writing style interspersed with pages of comic-book-style illustrations that propel the story forward. Characterization is a little thin, but that won't deter those who are hooked on the book's relentless action, mild horror, and inventive world-building. A satisfying conclusion to a compelling read.–Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted."
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - The Un-forgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Notes: Two refugee brothers from Mongolia are determined to fit in with their Liverpool schoolmates, but bring so much of Mongolia to Bootle that their new friend and guide, Julie, is hard-pressed to know truth from fantasy as she recollects a wonderful friendship that was abruptly ended when Chingis and his family were forced to return to Mongolia.
Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
Horn Book starred (Spring 2012)
During World War II, two Romany boys and their baby sister find themselves in a zoo inhabited by talking animals. They share their stories--of brutality, courage, despair, and hope--then the narrative shifts to an escape journey. Hartnett's particular combination of crystal-edged realism and operatic scope makes for a riveting, edgy read, leaving one examining the whole notion of civilization versus wildness.Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - A Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler
Booklist (December 15, 2011 (Online))
Grades 4-7. The author of Philippa Fisher’s Fairy Godsister (2008) again explores the hazards of wishes that come true. Here, when the close families of sensible, routine-loving Jenni and her exuberantly larger-than-life BFF, Autumn, meet for their annual week’s vacation in a time-share colony, Jenni idly thinks it would be cool to know what’s coming—and after a ride in a strange antique elevator suddenly finds herself a year older. More shockingly, so is everyone else, and she witnesses Autumn and her once-tight family coming apart in the wake of a devastating accident the year before. After further rides reveal even more dismal events two and three years later, including the breakup of her own parents, Jenni finds a way to return to her present and by the narrowest of margins avert the catalyzing mishap. A crowd-pleaser for fans of uncomplicated light fantasy, the novel is enriched by simply drawn characters, an intensely suspenseful climax, and an upbeat ending sweetened by both strong affirmations of friendship and a romantic subplot in the supporting cast.Ann Krembs, February 9, 2012 - Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross
Horn Book starred (Fall 2011)
This remarkable book presents fourteen historical explorations, from Pytheas the Greek's three-thousand-years-ago voyage to Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins's moon shot, with the question "how did they do that?" as focus. Detailed cross sections, often displayed in foldout segments, diagram each mode of transportation; maps abound, also within foldout pages. The text diligently differentiates between fact and opinion. Bib., glos., ind.